National gender-based COVID-19 measures in effect

The Panamanian government has announced a “total quarantine” for the provinces of Panama and West Panama from January 4-14, 2021.

According to a report from online publication, Tico Times, Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre said this action was being taken, “due to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Panama, given that the rates of contagion and their consequent lethality are directly linked to social behaviour”.

The announcement of the January 4 to 14 total quarantine being established for the provinces of Panama and West Panama was made in a public statement by Panama’s president, Laurentino Cortizo.

For the remainder of 2020, national gender-based measures were placed in effect. As such, women can enter commercial establishments on Monday and Wednesday, while men can only enter on Tuesday and Thursday.

Curfew still in place

Shops must close at 5 p.m. to allow staff to return to their homes before a 7 p.m. curfew. From December 31, at 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. on January 4, a total quarantine has been decreed throughout the national territory of Panama, the Health Ministry said.

From January 4-14, the quarantine measures will continue only in the provinces of Panama, which contains the capital, Panama City and Panama West. During quarantine days, people are allowed to leave their homes only to purchase food or medicine.

They can do so only on days defined by their gender and national identity card. Some other essential services will also remain open. The Tocumen International Airport will remain open, immigration authorities reported.

Panama has reported at least 231,000 coronavirus cases and 3,840 deaths during the pandemic. Facing saturated hospitals, the government has contracted doctors from other countries.

Cuban doctors began arriving last week

Cuban doctors began arriving in Panama last week to fight the pandemic despite US opposition. A group of 220 Cuban health professionals arrived last Thursday to help the Central American country that has already seen its health system being overwhelmed by the coronavirus spread in the country.

“Medical reinforcement comes to the health system with the aim of contributing to the high demand in our hospitals,” said Sucre. They comprise 100 per cent specialists from different areas of intensive care, internal medicine, pulmonology, cardiology and respiratory therapy.

In addition there are specialists to support nursing. On December 15, the Panamanian government announced it would hire doctors from Cuba, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia to deal with COVID-19.

With 4.2 million inhabitants, Panama has the highest number of infections in Central America, with more than 223,000 accumulated cases and 3,715 deaths. After reopening, most of its economic activities between September and October, the country has experienced an upswing of COVID-19 cases.